Lt. Jack Castello, United States Marine Corps, Daimon Division, 767th Regiment, Fireteam Onyx
Journal Entry #68, August 20, 2014, Day 42 of 50:

I remember that day. Still fresh in my mind, even after all this time. It was a sunny day in the deserts of Kazhikistan. Hell, it's ALWAYS a sunny day in the desert.

Our unit had just gotten a fresh batch of recruits. They were fresh outta boot, greener than grass.

It didn't even take a full hour before we were attacked by insurgent forces. Shouldn't have been a surprise, with the melting pot that is the Middle East, I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner. It happened in a flash and just like that it was over.

Though, we suffered casualties, of course. We lost a veteran of our unit, Gunnery Sergeant Jimmy Eisenov was killed when a stray bullet from an insurgents AK, a '103 series I think, pierced his abdomen. We also lost a few of the newbies: Privates Colin Nicholis and Victor Gergory were shot with insurgent AK-74s, Private Jeremy Gerome was killed by a sniper, and Private Samuel Terence was killed when he...when, he...when he sacrificed himself by throwing himself on an enemy grenade.

Then, there were the survivors, myself included. We buried the dead, said a small prayer, and moved on. The veterans all have their own way of coping with the losses. Some, such as Staff Sergeant William Forbes, smoke an extra cigarette for the men he couldn't share one with.

Others, such as Sergeant Major Joshua Gonzales and myself, crack open a bottle of 'Daniels and drink to their memories.

But, a few of the new guys couldn't take it. Two of the newbies, Privates Timothy Walters and Franklin Hoseph shot themselves with their sidearms. Private T.J. Williams, a man of a weak liver, drowned it with a bottle of Jack.

That's about it, don't like to dwell on it, else I do and down a pint of bourbon. My head and liver's already kicking my ass for over drinking with the division commander and regiment CO's...

Lieutenant Jackson Thomas Castello